All-new Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500 to launch on October 11, 2012

Second generation Thunderbird gets bigger and badder!

The Chennai-based bike-maker will soon launch a second generation Thunderbird 500 to replace the predecessor which has been hauling RE-lovers across borders and to some of the highest passes in the world. In its second generation, the new Thunderbird 500 will be powered by the same air-cooled single cylinder 4-stroke Twin Spark motor that has been serving the Classic 500 and 350 models.

The new Thunderbird too will be available in two variants – the 500 and the 350. Part sharing seems to be the new mantra across all bike-makers as it allows for a varied product range from lesser resources – more from less. Pricing wise expect the new Thunderbird to be dearer than its earlier model thanks to all the fancy bits of technology and features that it packs in like projector headlight, fuel injection, gas-charged suspension, rear disc brake, digital LCD console and lot more goodies.

Though we really hope RE prices it competitively to offer a good value to the end users considering there aren’t enough affordable cruiser motorcycles in the country today. Equipment levels on the new Thunderbird are top-notch and on paper it sound s like a worthy upgrade to the iconic first generation Thunderbird – couple that to the 20 litres of fuel tank capacity and the new Thunderbird can cover good distances on a single tank full. Launching this Thursday, the Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500 will hopefully give a boost to the rather diminutive cruiser motorcycle segment in India.